After taking the State, now will the PDP-BJP combine go together in the coming Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections date for which though has not been finalised or will they go separate to keep the emotions and sentiments of the people intact alongwith the alliance? The ULB elections are due in the State for the past over two and a half years and so far government has made several announcements to conduct the same but the final date has not yet been finalised. There is uncertainty prevailing over the issue. As per the provisions of Local Bodies Act, State Cabinet has to finalise the deadline for completion of term within six months, which is to be formally announced later by the Housing and Urban Development Department, responsible for holding elections to the Urban Local Bodies, including two Municipal Corporations, six Municipal Councils and the Municipal Committees. Earlier, the government had set October-November 2011 and later April 2012 as the deadlines for holding the civic polls but failed to execute its own decision. During Governor’s rule, it was decided that Urban Local Body polls would be held in April-May and Panchayat elections in June. Once a popular government came in saddle on 4th April, the issue was put on back burner. It looks the present government wants the elections to be deferred till the time the budget session of the Assembly and the annual Amarnath Yatra end. The Centre had put a rider on the release of funds to State Government to be utilised through these elected bodies. Funds for this year had been released, but would be given next year only if the elected bodies were in place. The outcome of the local bodies election would test the strength of the coalition at grass-root level to really carry forward the agenda of development. The results would also show the level of autonomy these bodies would have or would it remain just a political promise never to be fulfilled and kept in abeyance?
